One Night, So Pregnant!(57)

‘I hope you realise you’re staying here tonight,’ he said with that frustrating but oddly endearing tone of command in his voice as he closed the door behind her. ‘You’re sure as hell not driving back down Highway One on your own at this time of night.’

‘What a lovely invitation,’ she teased, waving her hand behind her as she heard his bare feet pad on the tiled floor as he followed her.

She felt the flicker of nerves and anticipation skitter under her skin as she strolled into the main living area of the penthouse apartment—the black onyx breakfast bar, spotlessly clean stainless steel kitchen and dark leather sofas were just what she would have expected of the Nate Graystone she’d first met.

Stark, stylish, prohibitively expensive and superficial.

But so unlike the man she had come to know. There were so many warm, wonderful, intriguing layers to Nate Graystone and she’d only begun to scratch beneath the surface. She just hoped with all her heart that what she had driven up here to tell him, to ask him really, wasn’t going to make him want to cover all those intriguing layers up again and hide them away for good.

She took a quick giddy breath to bolster her courage and whisked round to face him. ‘I accept,’ she said. ‘As long as I get to be on top.’

He sent her a rueful smile, looking deliciously rumpled and surprisingly cute in faded denim, an old UCLA sweatshirt with what looked like a new stain on it and bare feet. ‘You didn’t actually have a choice about accepting,’ he said wryly. ‘But I don’t mind being flexible about the details.’

‘I’m sure we can have fun with the negotiation,’ she said, letting the bubble of laughter burst out.

If everything went as she hoped, tonight would be the first night of a whole new phase in their relationship. A phase without caution and evasions and limitations. A phase of exploration and expectation and hope. She’d spent the day talking it over with Eva and she knew without a doubt now how strong her feelings were for this man. So strong in fact that she hadn’t been able to hang around and wait for him to come to her.

Yes, they had some crucial differences, but those differences didn’t have to derail their relationship; if anything they could make it stronger, if they both had the guts to reach for that gold ring together.

Oh, please, let it be so.

He circled her waist with strong arms and eased her into his embrace, his eyes dark with passion but sparkling with what she hoped was so much more.

‘I’m glad you came over,’ he said, touching his forehead to hers. ‘I’ve missed you.’

‘Ditto,’ she replied, wrapping her fingers around muscular forearms, and stroking the fine hair, so pleased at the tender acknowledgement she thought she might die of happiness.

Had his feelings been as strong as hers all along, and all she’d needed to do was make him admit them? What fools they’d both been, avoiding the obvious.

‘Let’s go to bed,’ he said, his lips fastening on the pulse point in her neck, nuzzling a spot he knew would drive her wild. ‘We can talk tomorrow.’

She braced herself against him. ‘No, I have to say this now, before I lose my nerve.’

He sent her a puzzled grin, but straightened away from her. ‘What did you want to say?’

She let his arms go, took a step back, needing to see his face clearly when she told him. ‘I know we originally agreed this would be friends with benefits, but I’m not happy with that arrangement any more.’

A small line appeared on his brow. ‘Go on.’

‘I think...’ She drew in a shaky breath. For goodness’ sake, just say it. ‘I want something more permanent than that. Because I—’

‘That’s great,’ he said, interrupting her before she’d had a chance to explain properly. But the quick grin that flashed across his face had a shot of pleasure searing through her system.

‘It is?’ she asked, a little astonished it had been so easy.

‘I was thinking the same thing.’

‘You were?’

‘Yeah, how about I move down this weekend?’

‘Move down? You mean move into the cottage, with me?’ she murmured, dully.

He nodded. ‘Yeah, of course.’

‘Well, yes, that would be terrific, if that’s what you want,’ she said, trying to dismiss her uneasiness at the typically pragmatic approach.

She would love to have him there every morning when she woke up, and every single evening when she went to sleep. And the truth was he’d pretty much moved in already, so it wasn’t that big a step. But why did his suggestion make her feel deflated?

‘Cool,’ he said, sweeping her up into his arms, his eyes alight with enthusiasm. ‘I don’t want you living there alone any more, not in your condition. And it makes sense for me to be there when you go into labour. Now let’s go to bed.’